Christie 2012: What stands in his way

Let’s say Chris Christie decides to run for for president — then what?

It’s a question that has occurred to Christie and his circle of intimates — and they’ve begun sketching a plan in case the governor goes forward with a run.

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They understand that all the enthusiasm and pleading in some Republican quarters for a Christie candidacy obscures the fact that the New Jersey governor would immediately have to scale the side of a steep and unforgiving political mountain.

With the initial primary and caucus states poised to move up their contests to January, an October announcement means that Christie would immediately confront two questions of some urgency: where would he compete and how would he get on the ballot in an array of states coming in rapid succession.

Those decisions have to be made and action needs to be taken while also handling myriad other demands — all of it on the fly.

While Christie’s camp is staying mum, the governor is aware, according to top Republicans and donors, that the hour is growing late. He has to decide what to do within the week — and below are the issues he’d have to address.

Organization

Christie has a tight-knit group of advisers, but it isn’t quite like the turnkey operation Rick Perry had in place. Because while Perry was mulling, at least for public consumption, whether to run all summer, his top aides were building an operation in the early states.

So, in the midst of launching a campaign, Christie would have to simultaneously create both a national infrastructure and state-by-state organization. The good news is that there are still Republicans left to staff such an effort — one well-connected Iowa strategist was emailing Christie associates as recently as this week offering to help.

The governor has aides with presidential experience — both his communications director Maria Comella and top political adviser Mike DuHaime were on Rudy Giuliani’s campaign — and there are consultants in the wings who are available to step in and handle media, polling and mail. DuHaime “knows everyone in his business,” said one GOP strategist, noting his time at the Republican National Committee under Ken Mehlman prior to the 2008 race.

The challenge for Christie, though, isn’t necessarily putting together a strategy team. It’s throwing together, in mid-stride, an organization that could handle all the mundane but crucial tasks of a presidential campaign.

Take ballot access for example. The rules vary in every state. Mitt Romney’s campaign offered a pointed reminder to Christie on Thursday about how arduous this task can be, issuing a press release noting that they had qualified for the Vermont primary ballot. That requires, in addition to a filing fee, getting the signatures of 1,000 registered voters.

In other states, essential deadlines are fast approaching. Candidates have to file in Florida by the end of October and then the day after in South Carolina. By Dec. 5, 3,000 signatures from registered Illinois voters are due in Springfield to appear on the GOP primary ballot next year.